Las Vegas and Southern Nevada get nearly 90% of their water from the Colorado River, which provides water for over 40 million people across seven states and two countries. Las Vegas has been a leader in water conservation, and household water consumption has decreased, but this month, for the first time, the federal government declared a “Tier 1” shortage on the river. This means Nevada, Arizona and Mexico will receive less Colorado River water next year.
The Tier 1 shortage declaration highlights the challenges facing the Colorado River Basin; however, this did not come as a surprise. The past year has been the second-driest since record-keeping began in 1895, and the states that make up the Colorado River Basin are in a two-decade “megadrought.” Climate change is playing a role, compounding an already bad situation. Scientists say that due to climate change, the Colorado River Basin will become a permanently hotter and drier place. Compared with the last century, we have seen a reduction in flow equivalent to the annual water use of 14 million Americans — with half of that decline attributable to rising temperatures. Scientists predict flows could decline another 10 to even 40%. Already, Lake Mead — where Las Vegas stores its Colorado River water — is at only 35% of capacity and hasn’t been full since 2000.
Climate change and drought are also exacerbating catastrophic wildfire risk in the basin, affecting communities, water quality and water quantity. Rainfall and snowmelt rush across wildfire-scarred landscapes devoid of vegetation to slow runoff, resulting in erosion and sediment that clogs waterways, damages water supplies and destroys wildlife habitat.
There is a lot at stake for us all. Less water for people means even less for the wildlife, trees and plants that depend on rivers, streams and groundwater to survive in Nevada’s arid landscape. This hurts nature and our quality of life in the West.
The Colorado River can be a model for resiliency and sustainability but not without a concerted and significant effort by stakeholders in the region. Nevada has long been a leader in thoughtful water management, and stakeholders have been developing solutions and adapting to a drier future, but we must all accelerate the pace because the river system has changed more quickly than we have adapted.
Water issues are complex and require partnership and collaboration. The Nature Conservancy has worked in the Colorado River Basin for 20 years and appreciates the critical importance of partnerships in charting a sustainable and resilient future. We must accelerate our efforts and think more broadly and creatively than ever before to chart a sustainable course. Solutions should include reducing water use across sectors, modernizing infrastructure, improving forest, stream and river health, and enhancing natural infrastructure to bolster surface water and groundwater supplies.
Water users and managers throughout the basin must work together — testing ideas, sharing knowledge and investing in both short-term and long-term solutions in order to have the greatest impact.
The bipartisan infrastructure bill the Senate just passed is a good start. It includes investments to enhance drought resilience, sustainable water supply solutions and wildfire resilience that start us on a path to improving the health of rivers and forests, and help communities better withstand the impacts of climate change.
Thank you, Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen for supporting this bipartisan effort which recognizes in a bigger, bolder way than ever before that investing in nature is a smart way to achieve the clean water, resilient communities, healthy forests, fish and wildlife habitats, clean air and stable climate we all need.
We’re eager to see this momentum continue so we can ultimately act at the larger scale necessary to address the biodiversity and climate crises facing our communities. By proactively working together and planning for a hotter and drier future, we can increase flexibility and develop solutions to help us weather a new reality.
Mauricia Baca is state director for the Nevada Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Taylor Hawes is Colorado River program director for the organization, which works with ranchers, municipalities, industry and state officials to craft local solutions that can be models for river systems.